Key holder



Dec. 15, 1936. 'F SC MITZ 2 ,064,691

KEY HOLDER Filed NOV. 6, 1935 fF'ank 50/2122 z'tz INVENTQR ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 15, 1936 t UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to key holders and such devices to be permanently attached to a door by which a key is retained in the lock.

The general object of my invention is to provide a key retainer embodying a simple and economic construction which will prevent the accidental dislodgement of the key from the lock, thus preventing the annoyance resulting from the key becoming lost.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character indicated which will normally hold the key handle in horizontal position so as to prevent the removal of the key from the outside of the door without'encumbering the operation of the key during locking.

The invention will be fully and comprehensively understood from a consideration of the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing which forms part of the application, with the understanding, however, that the improvement is capable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showing of the drawing nor to the precise construction described and, therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therein as to not affect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereof as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a door equipped with my key retainer illustrating the operation of same.

Figs. 2 and 3 are front and side elevational views respectively of my device apart from the door; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of my device, the same being fabricated from a single piece of wire.

Referring now to the drawing for a more detailed description thereof, the numeral 5 indicates the base plate of my device by which its attachment to the door is effected. At each end of the plate 5 is provided suitable holes 6 so spaced as to permit the attachment of my device onto the door by the usual escutcheon plate screws 1, see Fig. 1.

Integral with the plate 5 and extending perpendicularly from the middle of same is a resilient arm 8 which, in the plane shown in Fig. 3, is offset in an S-bend so that its free end is normally adjacent the handle or bow 9 of a key with the latter in place in the lock.

At the free end of the resilient arm 8 is provided a key engaging head II] which has a slot I I cut therein of ample size to allow the insertion thru same of the handle 9 of the key. The head ID in its transverse plane is V-shaped substantially as shown in Fig. 3. It is to be noted here that the resilient arm 8 is to be so formed that with the plate 5 attached to the door the head In will engage behind the shoulders of the key handle 9 with a slight pressure, substantially as shown in Fig. 1, so 9 are disposed in the apex of the V-head ID. Thus the V-form of the head ID will prevent the turning of the key from the opposite side of the door.

In order to turn the key during the locking operation pressure may be applied on the resilient arm 8 so as to move the head I!) out of engagement with the key handle 9, as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 1. It will be observed that the key may be turned without depressing the head I0 in that the V-form of the same will effect a cam action in cooperation with the key handle 9 so that the head ID will be cammed out of engagement with the key handle 9. The slight pressure of the head It! against the key handle 9 imparted by the resilient arm 8 will prevent the accidental dislodgment of the key such as when the door is slammed.

Reference is now directed to- Fig. 4 for a detailed description of the modified form of my device which embodies my key retainer formed of a single piece of wire. In the fabrication of this form of my device an elongate loop is formed at the middle of the wire which is bent into V-form in the transverse plane into the key engaging head M. The intermediate portions of the projecting wire are then twisted upon themselves to form the resilient arm l5 which in the transverse plane is bent to S-form similar to the resilient arm 8. The respective free ends of the wire are bent to project in opposite directions substantially at right angles to the resilient arm [5, thereby providing the lateral members I6. The respective ends of the members l6 are each formed in a closed loop I! so spaced as to permit the attachment of this form of my device by the escutcheon plate screws 1.

What is claimed as new is:

, A device of the character described, comprising a slotted end portion thru which a key may be passed and adapted to press outwardly against the bow of a key positioned in a lock, and a resilient shank extending from said slotted end portion and adapted to be secured to a door, said. slotted end portion being V-shaped so that the apex thereof will press against the bow of the key to prevent the key from being accidentally turned.

FRANK SCHMITZ.

that the shoulders of the key handle 

